The Myth of an Irish Cinema: Approaching Irish-Themed FilmsFor the past seventy years the discipline of film studies has widely invoked the term national cinema. Such a concept suggests a unified identity with distinct cultural narratives. As the current debate over the meaning of nation and nationalism has made thoughtful readers question the term, its application to the field of film studies has become the subject of recent interrogation. In The Myth of an Irish Cinema, Michael Patrick Gillespie presents a groundbreaking challenge to the traditional view of filmmaking, contesting the existence of an Irish national cinema. Given the social, economic, and cultural complexity of contemporary Irish identity, Gillespie argues, filmmakers can no longer present Irishness as a monolithic entity. The book is arranged thematically, with chapters exploring cinematic representation of the middle class, urban life, rural life, religion, and politics. Offering close readings of Irish-themed films, Gillespie identifies a variety of interpretative approaches based on the diverse elements that define national character. Covering a wide range of films, from John Ford’s The Quiet Man and Kirk Jones’s Waking Ned Devine to Bob Quinn’s controversial Budawanny and The Bishop’s Story, The Myth of an Irish Cinema signals a paradigm shift in the field of film studies and promises to reinvigorate dialogue on the subject of national cinema. |
Contents
What Is to Be Done? | 29 |
The Erasure of Irish Identity in MiddleClass | 54 |
The Survival of WorkingClass Films | 83 |
The Calcification of Irish Rural Drama | 115 |
Reconstructions of the Family 1 | 143 |
Images of Religious Beliefs | 168 |
Other editions - View all
The Myth of an Irish Cinema: Approaching Irish-Themed Films Michael Patrick Gillespie Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
Adam and Paul American Anne Devlin approach articulated attitudes becomes behavior boys Brendan Brendan Gleeson British Catholic Celtic Tiger challenge characters Colm Meaney complexity concept condition conflicted consequence contrast critics cultural markers December Bride defining delineated Despite director Disco Pigs diverse Dublin economic efforts elements emerges emphasis engage environment ethos examination explore fashion film's focuses genre Goldfish Memory Harry highlights Hollywood imaginative impact impulse individual interpretive Ireland Irish Cinema Irish film Irish identity Irish society Irish-themed films Irish-themed motion pictures issues Jackie Jackie's Jimmy linear lives Magdalene Sisters McLoone ment Michael Collins middle-class motion pictures narrative national cinema nature Nonetheless offers perspective Poitín political films produced Quiet religion remains representations response Runt rural films scene seems sense sexual simply social specific stands stereotypes story struggles Third Cinema tion underscores understanding unique viewers violence Waking Ned Devine working-class